Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-24
STEUBESVILLE.

Special Correspondence Of the Sun az Register.
STEUBENvILLE, OHIO, July 90
The trial of Van 3. Baker, charged
with the murder of his mother. in-law,
Mrs. Drucilla McWha, and his wife, Eliza
Barker, at Holidays Cove, on the 9th of
last MAY, which commenced at New Cum
berland last Monday, is exciting more in
terest in this section OF country than any
murder trial that has taken place since the
celebrated Lewis X. Mccoy case Of over
twenty years ago. The two murders were
! entirely different character and perpe-
trated from entire different motives, the
only similarity between them being that
both were deliberate, cold-blooded MUIR
ders. Mccoy, who was the richest man
living Mt McCOy's Station, on the G. & I.
railroad. about ten miles above this city,
conceived an enmity against a man named
| Mcdonald, and as the latter was walking
| along the street Mccoy deliberately shot
him to death with n rifle. The trial OF
| Mccoy was a celebrated one i'll the history
of Jefferson county. Some OF the
finest legal talent in the country was
on the case, particularly on the defense,
and the final result was the conviction of
Mccoy of murder in the second degree and
his sentence to the penltentiary for life.
| He remained in the p~enitentiary until the
spring of 1877, when the last official act Of
Il. B. Hayes rs GOvernO~, before r%eslgning
TO accept the Presidency, was McCoy's
pardon. Mccoy was a broken down old
man, and having spent his entire fortune
j IN defending himself and in attempts to
gain q pardon after his incarceration i'll the
penitentiarv, he was left Oh his W re-
| sources for q livelihood. He went South
and three years atterward died in Texas OF
yellow fever. In the Baker case Il fine
array of legal talent is engaged. Judge
| Moore, for the defense, has a reputation
second 10 none at the Pennsylvania bar,
while his associates, J. K. Braddock, of
| Wellsburg, J. r. DOnehoO, of Fair
view, aud orr own John NJ Cook, rank
among the leading attorneys in this sec
ton. The State is particularly strong i'll
the persons of Judge Hutchinson, of Park
ersburg, aud John McSweney, OF Wooster,
and every point in the trial is being ably
contested. The motive for the commission
OF the crime was apparently Tor the pur-
pose of getting possession Of the property
of the two women. They were b~rutally
knocked in the head, q heavy iron bolt
and an aX being used, and it was one OF
the most brutal, cOwardly crimes ever per-
petrated in Ohio, Pennsylvania or West
Virginia, and there is only one punish
ment the law can iniliCt that will in any
way meet the requirements of the case.
The case has been in progress al entire
,.,1 NIL - tpitl tnla ni laaSt pnnfhlr
week to bring it to Il close.
The %jOliest set of campers to be found
anywhere are located at JeddO, where they
have pitched their tent and are enjoying
themselves in royal style. The party con-
sists OF Fred Huffman, John Zimmerman,
Will Henry, Charley Hutton, Bob Hill,
John May, Jr., Sam Hill and VIM. Ham
ilton. On Friday they We're visited by a
large number of their Steubenville friends,
who had Il very enjoyable time. The boys
are Il wholc-soulcd set of fellows, aud Wis
itors are made heartily welcome.
The First Presbyterian church picnicked
at Browns Island, last Thursday. They
went up ON the c. * p. in the morning,
evening. They spent the day very pleas,
antly.
Cards are out announcing the marriage
of Miss Fannie, daughter of Col. Crawford,
OF Holidays Cove, to Rev. Mr.. Wilson, OF
the West. The happy event will take
place at the home of the brides parents on
Thursday, July 18th.
About n hundred persons go up on the
train each morning TO attend the Baker
murder trial at New Cumberland.
Miss Stella Staiger, who has been The
guest of her friend, Miss Carrie Hogan, for
some time, left Thursday night for her home
in Le]avenwOrth, kas.
Mrs. Col. ]. w. Beazell and daughters
have gone to the seashOre. Mrs. Prettyman,
of New York, who had been visiting them,
accompanied the party East, where it will
be joined by Col. Beazell.